Anderson Township (part 2 of 3)

It is a sad pleasure to me, as I to-night have hurriedly brought up to my recollection, the many trying scenes and the struggles with poverty and adversity, through which I passed in Madison county. But when memory reverts to those scenes, and to the dear old friends - many of whom have passed off the stage - with whom I so long mingled, and by whom I was honored, I feel pleasure commingled with sadness.

I may again return to Madison county, and then, when my time comes, "draw the drapery of my couch around me, and lie down to pleasant dreams " by the side of my son and two daughters who now rest in the beautiful little cemetery near Anderson.

Peter H. Lemon

Addenda. - I omitted to mention that I became a member of Mount Moriah Lodge, No. 77, Free and Accepted Masons at Anderson, in 1851, 1 believe. Served as Secretary, of said Lodge, some two or three years. I became a Royal Arch Mason in Muncie Chapter No. 30, in 1857, I think. In 1858, I believe, I became a Royal and Select Master, in Indianapolis Council, No. 2.

During the late rebellion, I enlisted in the forty-seventh Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, and was appointed by Colonel James R. Slack, Commissary Sergeant served ten, months, when I received my discharge on account of disability from chronic diarrhoea.

A Chapter On Spiritualism By Egbert Cree

After so long a time I attempt to give you a sketch of spiritual manifestations which occurred about the year 1852. The facts we find about as follows : A man by the name of Oliver Branch, an old bachelor, who possessed a considerable amount of money, unceremoniously left for parts unknown. After being gone some time it was whispered about that he had been foully dealt with ; that one Henry Huff was suspected of being guilty of the crime. The neighbors became excited to a considerable extent, placing

Mr. H. in a precarious situation. He, however, cleared the matter up by procuring evidence from Fort Wayne that Mr. B. had there sickened and died a natural death. This set the matter at rest until Spiritualism was introduced into the neighborhood, led by one Ward McNear, who professed to be a medium ; and at a meeting of persons of this faith the spirit of Mr. Branch was said to be present, confirming the first suspicion that Mr. B. had been murdered, and that Huff was the guilty party. The indignity of the people was now aroused to its highest pitch, and preparations were made for investigation. The spot had been located through the medium where the bones of the murdered man could be found. The day was set ; tools were prepared, including picks, shovels, grabiug hooks, etc. Headed by McNear some forty or fifty persons began the work in earnest, laboring all day. Late in the evening Wilson More pointed out the exact spot in the edge of a small branch. By this time the day had closed; the water coming in to the excavation operations were suspended until pumps and other necessaries were procured. In the mean time, however, the number had increased from fifty to seventy-five persons, the excitement running higher and higher. Thus prepared with these necessaries work again commenced. Finally by dint of hard labor bones were actually found. Now the excitement became intense, but to any rational mind not wrought up by this delusion it was readily decided that they were the bones of the deer, so admitted by this deluded set, who had been led by designing men into this foolish move without anything whatever save the sudden disappearance of Mr. B. to found their suspicions of crime upon. Here ends this little narrative. The spot is to this day called " The Bone Diggings," traces of which may be seen near the southeast corner of Van Buren township.

The author was induced to insert this merely to show how far, from the most trifling occurrence, human folly can be led. This, however, has been the case from time immemorial, and there is but one way of successful escape, and that is through a proper education, which is a safeguard to all classes. It will serve to keep down superstition and bigotry ; it will act as an equalibrium to thought an action, and will develop to our natural understanding what some have been pleased to call mysterious. Spiritualism is either a grand humbug or a grand science. If the former, let it be hoped it is exploded forever; if the latter, it will in time result in good, when God in his own good time, tlirough His agent, man, will see fit to commit it to us. In the case referred to above by Mr. Cree these deluded folks were doubtless led by some crazy brain with selfish ends in view, who would have them believe something was about to be ushered in regardless of science and natural laws.

The Press

Some one has said that the Press is a mighty lever, the truthfulness of which is conceded on all hands. Since this is so, how important that it should be wielded in the right direction and by men of principle, who are not looking and waiting to float out on some popular idea that may seize on the people who do not do their own thinking. This evil might be to some extent avoided, if our press was more iudejiendent and outspoken, and not so much of the breadand-butter order. A free, independent press, fearlessly edited, is certainly a power in the land, if not edited by a secular or a one idea man, who looks no farther than his own sanctum.

We are inclined to think that there are but few of this class, and to-day the press throughout the country is taking high moral grounds. The press of our county seems no exception to this rule. We have three weekly papers published in the county ; there are two at Anderson and one at Pendleton. In style, tone and mechanical skill they will compare favorably with other papers throughout the State. We are proud of them. Long may they continue their usefulness. Their drculation is about as follows : Herald, 1,200; Democrat, 1,000; Register, 800 - making 3,000 copies issued weekly, two-thirds of which remain in the county. The Anderson Democrat and the Pendleton Register are both partially printed at Chicago. The department printed at Chicago contains general news ; that part printed at the offices is composed principally of local news. The Anderson Herald is entirely printed at Anderson. The Herald and Democrat are published at two dollars per annum ; the Register at one dollar per annum.

As to the early history of the press of the county, we have only been able to get a vague account. In fact, it has been the most difficult task connected with this work to get anything like a respectable chain. The first press introduced at Anderson was about the year 1834, when a small paper was issued, called the Western Telegraph. Its editor was Charles D. Henderson. It is hardly necessary to say that this was a small, dingy sheet, and would illy compare with the city papers of to-day. It, however, served its day of usefulness, when it gave place to a paper called the Atheneum. This was in the year 1837. Its editor was Thomas Sims, who is represented to have been a man of fine attainments. His paper was mainly devoted to the science of phrenology, which at that day was not very well understood in Madison county. He was in advance of the times, and we at this day perhaps occupy about the same ground the paper advocated at that time. The people at the time were illy prepared to receive what to them appeared of doubtful existence. Their minds were more occupied with matters of more immediate importance, and his paper did not prosper, and was discontinued in the course of a few years.

Soon afterward, Dr. Ryan started a paper, the name of which we have been unable to obtain. He was assisted by Peter H. Lemon. Just how long this paper was conducted we are not able to say.

About the year 1850 the Anderson Gazette was published by Mr. Osborn, of Muncie. It was afterwards conducted by J. F. Henry. It continued to the year 1854.

In 1855 the Democratic Standard was started by Thomas W. Cook, of Huntsville. A year later Ira H. Cook became associated. This firm continued up to November, 1856, when Charles I. Barker undertook the management of the paper for about two years. It was afterwards conducted by O. C. Willets, F. M. Randall and Fleming T. Luce, in whose hands it ceased to exist in 1872.

In 1868 the Anderson Plain Dealer was started by William E. Cook. It was afterwards conducted l)y Edwin Schlater, George D. Farrer and William C. Fleming. , In 1870 the Anderson Democrat was started by William C. Fleming. It was afterwards conducted by Charles Zahn and M. Y. Todysman. It is now under the management of Todysman & Pyle.

About the year 1860, J. F. Henry again became associated with the Anderson press, and continued about two years, when J. C. Hanson took charge of the paper. It soon passed into the hands of J. O. Hardesty, and assumed the name of the Anderson Herald, whi(!h has become a household word in the county. It was conducted by him for about three years, when Stephen Metcalf became associated with the firm. This firm continued one year, when Mr. Hardesty retired, in August, 1873. Mr. Metcalf is now sole owner and proprietor.

Dear Friend : Your favor of the 25th ultimo was received by me some days ago, and but for my vocation, which has required my entire time, should have answered yours at an earlier moment.

In reference to your inquiry for information in regard to the history of the press in Madison county, I will furnish you (from memory alone, as I have no written memoranda to aid me) all that I can in the case, namely :

In March, 1841, when I settled in Madison county, there was being published at Anderson a weekly newspaper, called the Atheneum, edited by a Mr. Sims. It was a literary paper, I remember, and advocated the science of Phrenology, which at the time was " agitating the public mind " somewhat. I recollect it was publishing a series of letters, from the pen of Prof. Samuel K. Hoshour, a minister of the gospel and teacher at Cambridge City, Indiana, then in his prime. Said letters purported to be written " by a friend in the Orient to a friend in the Occident," and nearly every word in which they were written was a "jaw-breaker." The object of the Professor was to attract the attention of his readers to the use and meaning of words in our language. He is now living in this city, and, although advanced in years, is one of the Professors in the Northwestern Christian University.

But excuse my digression. The Atheneum was shortlived. It was in advance of the civilization in Madison county in those pioneer days, and for want of sufficient patronage it died early.

About the same time, I think, there was a small weekly newspaper published in Anderson, called the Madison County Journal, by one Gardner Goldsmith, a very little man in stature, a printer by trade. I can not, at this distant day, vouch for what I have said of such a paper.

In 1848, John Q. and William L. Howell, brothers, brought a press from Marion, Grant county, Indiana, and began the publication of the True Democrat. Both these gentlemen were printers, but neither of them could edit. They employed me to write their editorials ; I was, in fact, the brairis of the paper, if it could be said it had any of that ingredient. My name did not, however, appear " at the head of the editorial column ;" the " publishers and proprietors " stood responsible for all libelous matter that might drip from my prolific pen. But no lawsuits, per consequence, were ever instituted.

We threw our Democratic banner to the breeze, under the firm name of " Lemon & Ryan," - the Doctor, however, simply being a nominal party, to give prestige and credit to the concern. We changed the cognomen of the paper from the True Democrat to the Weekly Democrat, and set sail on the great political ocean, with our sails all spread, anticipating a prosperous and profitable voyage. But, alas ! we little dreamed that in one short year our noble and gallant eraft would be doomed to shipwreck on the rocks and reefs of the political archipelago !

The Democracy of Madison county being at that period in the majority, and having the only "organ," we got along swimmingly for a time. Politics ran high, and as editor I fanned the flame that made the political cauldron boil and bubble. I kept our political opponents in a constant broil; said many things I now would be glad I never had said. When we gained a Democratic victory, I would display our rooster and cannon in the paper, with doggerel and comments calculated to irritate and worry the Whigs. I remember the canvass of 1848 (when I was editing the True Democrat). Evan Ellis was pitted against Robert Newell Williams for the House of Representatives of our Legislature. Ellis was the Democratic candidate and Williams the Whig candidate ; Ellis a farmer and Williams a lawyer. The race was bitterly contested. Ellis, however, finally triumphed, but with only thirty-hvo majority. Still, it was a victory, and I put my game chicken at the head of a " double leaded " column, and began my doggerel chant in this wise : " Let Chanticleer proclaim the day from every towering

In 1850 the Weekly Democrat died of a broken heart, and I ceased to be a " little one-horse country editor.'^ The Anderson Gazette followed, edited by Dr. James W. Mendenhall, a young man of some parts. It was neutral in politics. Afterwards one J. Fennick Henry, I believe (the ugliest man in town), took the Gazette and turned it into a Simon-pure Democratic sheet. Then afterwards I think it was bought by Charles J. Barker, who run it some time under its old name in the interests of the " unterrified Democracy" of Madison county. Following the Gazette sprang up the Democratic Standard, under the auspices of a cracked-brained fellow by the name of Thomas W. Cook. Not long from that time the Whigs, or " People's Party," started the Madison County Republican, under the management and editorship of Mr. Wm. H. H. Lewis, a practical printer and very clever gentleman. Then later the Plain Dealer appeared, but had, as I learned, a very brief existence. I was living here when it was running. I believe I have omitted another paper, the exact name of which I have forgotten, published by one Luse, in the interest, also, of the Democracy. The Herald, also, I had omitted to mention, started and edited by one John O. Hardesty, alias " Red Hot," who sold it out and came to this city and started the Sun. Hardesty was a violent " Black Republican." The Sun, as to him, has risen and set for the last time.

This hasty and imperfect sketch, now already too long, is all I can think of in relation to the " Press" of Madison county. In many particulars you may be able to justify it from other sources. I did hope to find time to write you up some other matters - " incidents and anecdotes" of the early judiciary of your county, but business will prevent. Hoping you may gather from all sources enough to make

Synopsis Of The Sunday Schools

Below we give a glance at this organization. The time has been when the propriety of Sunday Schools was doubted, and some contended that they were not only useless, but productive of harm. That day has passed; and we now point with pride to their noble work. The Church may well say, " These are our helpmates ; these are our nurseries," in which are prepared and trained vines that will flourish and adorn our vineyard in the future.

The work within our county has been successful. Schools have multiplied and increased until we have sixty schools in good working order, with an aggregate attendance of three thousand two hundred, whose merry voices are heard in songs of praise every Sabbath day. Let no one say that this is not better than hunting, fishing, and desecrating God's holy day.

Beside the above schools we have a "County Sunday School Union," which has been organized over five years, and has held quarterly, semi-annual, and now annual meetings, which have been universally attended with interest. Their influence for good has gone out, and to-day the work of the Sunday School is not regarded as an experiment, but a living test of what was at one time regarded as of little or no importance.

The mode of teaching has been improved until it is almost reduced to a system. "With the " Uniform Lesson Leaves," teachers' meetings, and other helps that have been introduced as the times have demanded, the work has been made more efficient and successful.

In June, 1869

When the delegates from this county were called upon for a report, they answered " that Madison county had no organization, but that it should be organized/' and to aid the same the delegates then elected J. W. Bomgardner, President, and R. C. Stone, Secretary, of the embryo organization. Arrangements were perfected and a Convention called at Anderson, September 8th and 9th, 1869, which proved successful beyond the expectation of the most sanguine. The Union was organized and the following officers elected:

Elwood

The Madison County Sunday School Union met at its first quar terly meeting in the M. E. Church at Pendleton, 2 o'clock p. m., December 8th, 1869.

The convention was called to order by the President, R. N. Clark, the Rev. E. M. Baker conducting the devotional exercises, the special subject of prayer being " Our Convention."

J. W. Hardman was then elected Assistant Secretary pro tem, after which the townships were called, and answered as follows : Anderson, Boone, Fall Creek, Green, and Stony Creek. The remaining nine, not being represented on the first day, the calling of townships for reports was dispensed with until the next day.

The Convention then proceeded to discuss "The relation of the Pastor to the Sunday School, and his duties therein," opened by J. R. Silver, Esq.

The discussion was then followed up by Rev. E. H. Sparks, Rev. Odem, Rev. E. M. Baker, Rev. S. T. Stout, J. T. Smith, and J. W. Bomgardner, all agreeing that the relation of the Pastor to the Sunday School is nearly the same as his relation to the church, although it is not thought to be his duty to superintend, yet he should always be present to assist and advise the Superintendent when needed, and instruct and exhort the school as opportunity offers, remembering that when Jesus said to Peter, " Feed my sheep," he also said, "Feed my lambs."

The Convention then sang "The Water of Life," on sixteenth page of " Fresh Leaves," which was followed by a question drawer, answered by Rev. R. H. Sparks. At. 4:40 the Convention adjourned.

Evening Session

Rev. N. H. Phillips had been selected to address the children, but failing to be present, Rev. R. H. Sparks occupied the time, taking as a foundation the sentence, " God is good," demonstrating the same by the growing grass, the opening flower, the falling rain, the rippling brook, and lastly by the death of Christ.

After singing a song, Rev. S. T. Stout spoke for a short time, on the protection of Sunday Schools, and was then followed by Rev. Oden ; discnssing the question, " what was I made for ?"

Morning Session

Anderson - Reported by J. T. Smith. Has six Sunday Schools in successful operation, wi'th about ninty-three officers and teachers, and five hundred and thirty-two scholars. Total in all the schools about six hundred and twenty-five.

Boone - Reported by S. W. McMahan. Has two schools, one con, ducted by the M. E. Church and one by the United Brethren. Offi cers and teachers, eighteen ; scholars, one hundred and thirty-three. Total both schools, one hundred and fifty-one.

Fall Creek - J. W. Hardman. Has five schools in successful operation, with oflScers, teachers and scholars, in all about five hundred and twenty five.

Pipe Creek - J. W. McMahan. Has five schools ; two conducted by the M. E. and two by the Christian Church, with a total number belonging to all the schools of about three hundred and seventyfive.

Stony Creek - Rev. Oden. Two schools ; officers and teachers, about twenty ; scholars, about one hundred seventy-five. Total one hundred and ninety-five.

The above reports are not presumed to be entirely correct, but as nearly so as we can now make them. They show that out of the fourteen townships of the county, but seven were represented, and six have no schools at this season of the year. The other eight have twenty-four schools, to which belong about two hundred and fifty officesJ and teachers, and 1,850 scholars. Total, 2,100. There are enrolled in the county, for common school purposes, between six and twenty-one years of age, 7,129, and one fourth in our Sunday Schools are under six and over twenty-one, which added, make in our county, that ought to be in the Sunday Schools, 8,911.

The reports show that our schools average less than ninty, which shows the necessity of organizing at least seventy-six new schools, which should be, and with proper effort can be, done before the next meeting of this Union.

" Why am I a Teacher ? " Each teacher then wrote his answer to <hequestion. The same being gathered up and after a brief discussion by Rev. R. H. Sparks, the answers to the question were read by the Secretary, some of which were as follows : " Because I feel it to be my duty ;" "Because I want to lead children to Christ ; " " Because I want to do all the good I can, and think this the best field for me to work in ; " " Because I love Jesus," etc., etc.

This was then followed by a very interesting and impressive Bible lesson, given by Miss Annie Conwell, arranged and placed upon the blackboard as follows :

J. T. Smith then gave a blackboard lesson, first calling attention to the use of the board, which must vary with circumstances, but the lesson should always appear on the board, so all can see where it is without inquiring, and generally the board should contain the golden text and central thought. He then called attention to the board (see above) and had the Convention repeat the golden text in concert.

Then followed the discussion, " How to increase the spiritual interest in the Sunday School," opened by Rev. S. T. Stout, and participated in by Rev. E. M. Baker, Rev. Oden J. R. Silver, J. T. Smith, W. R. Pierse and Rev. A. S. Reed. The means recommended are

Mrs. E. B. HoUoway had been selected to teach an infant class at this hour, but was unable to attend, and J. T. Smith occupied the time in giving an object infant lesson, illustrating the characteristics of a good and a bad heart - the first being soft, warm and alive ; the second being hard, cold and dead. And at the close the question drawer was again introduced, and answered by Eev. R. H. Sparks.

The question, " How to retain our young folks in the Sunday School," was then discussed, Rev. A. S. Reed opening the discussion who was followed by W. IR. Pierse, R. H. Sparks, E. M. Baker and J. W. Bomgardner. .J. T. Smith then gave an object lesson, illustrating the text, " Ye shall know them by their fruits."

Resolved, That the members of this Convention tender to the citizens of. Pendleton their sincere thanks for the very hospitable manner in which the delegates have been entertained.

The President then addressed the Convention for a short time, urging on every Sunday School worker, and especially on those who have pledged themselves to work for the cause, the importance of buckling on the armor and going to work in earnest, and not ceasing until every neighborhood in the county has a good Sunday School

Source changes here: from Historical Sketches and Reminiscences of Madison County, Indiana, by Forkner, John La Rue, published 1897; 4,220 words in this source stream.

Anderson Township

row roads had been cut to enable teams to pass, but on either side of which a person could hide in the bushes in a few steps. and become invisible. The physical condition of the town had not improved since the Indians left it a few years before. It had long been an Indian town, where, tradition tells us, the great warrior, Tecumseh, was born and spent his boyhood. The county seat had been removed from the thriving town of Pendleton to Anderson, but no public building had been erected, and business was transacted at the house of the public officer in 1834. I do not remember who filled the office of sheriff, but R. X. Williams was clerk, recorder and postmaster, and I doubt if his compensation for all these public trusts amounted to $500 a year. The citizens of the town I best remember, because I saw them every week, were ^Villiams, the postmaster ; Andrew Jackson, afterward clerk : and Colonel Berry. Fred Bronnenberg I often saw either in Anderson or Chesterfield, the same genial companion then as now, though sixty-two years have elapsed. He is I he only person then in active business that I can call to mind as now living, which shows the transitory nature of our existence.

Which was my next stopping place, was then a thriving village, full of enterprise and gifted men. There was Palmer Patrick, Dr. John H. Cook, James Gray, and the Doctors Richmond, father and son, who would have been men of mark in any community, my landlord, Jesse Boston, who took care of me two nights each week, had immigrated from Baltimore the year before and erected a family residence and house of entertainment combined. Before leaving Maryland he had evidently caught the railroad fever, then prevalent there, because his tavern sign liad painted on it the picture of a locomotive engine, which attracted much attention because of its novelty. The men of Pendleton then in active life, it is needless to say, have all passed away.

I was retiuired to go from Pendleton to Xoblesville and return the same day. The country between these two towns at that time was a howling wilderness and one could tr;;vel several miles without seeing a human habitation. Much of the land was covered with water which in the winter time froze over and formed a solid bridge for miles, but in the spring of the year there seemed to be no bottom to the road.

History Of Madison Couxty, Indiana

Nobleville was a stiaggling villa<!;e on White river and while it looked more like a town than Anderson, it \vas greatly inferior to Pendleton. The public business was transacted after the manner of Anderson, for General Stephenson was clerk, recorder and postmaster, and the emoluments of his several offices hardly exceeded those of Williams at Anderson. He was able, however, to take a Philadelphia newspaper, a luxury forbidden to most pioneers on account of poverty, but he did not know until I told him twenty years afterwards that his paper was read each week several times before it saluted his eye. On mv westward trip the people would collect from the surrounding country at some of the offices, knowing about the time the " great eastern " mail would arrive, and clamor for the news, apparently supposing the carrier knew the contents and could tell them. To satisfy them I would take out Stephenson's paper and read to them for an hour the foreign and domestic news, the markets and often editorial comments on Jackson and \'anl5uren. Clay and Webster, besides other noted politicians, who at that time occupied the public attention. This was repeated several times before reaching Noblesville, much to llie delight of the jieople, because it was the only means they had of procuring information. 1 was young, but having been raised among the Quakers, could read well, because these people never neglect early education. If the late A. E. Russell, who was mv predecessor in office, were alive, I could appeal to him for confirmation of much that I luue written, and his intelligent widow, Caroline, who still survives, must lie an authoritN- on the early events of Madison county. M. L. Bundv.

In the summer of 1S6S, John O. Hardesty came to Anderson unheralded and unannounced. He purchased the material,of the " Loval American," a newspaper published by John C. Hans in and ex-postmaster H. J. Brown, and started the .liii/crsoii I/cra/d, a " red hot " Republican sheet. It was but a little while until the people knew that he was in town, especially the Democratic part of the communit}-. as he commenced a warfare at once on the ramparts of the Democratic camp.

incurred bv the County Board, footed up to the snug sum of $37,000, not an extraordinary amount for a county like Madison, but the figures looked big, and sounded large to the taxpayers.

Hardesty took this exhibit for his text for the campaign that was soon approaching, and the way he handled it was a caution to the old settlers.

Of course the amount expended included all paid out for eyery purpose, including the courts and the officers' salaries, and the keeping of the poor; but in looking over the list of \(Michers, Hardesty discovered that the only money that had been paid for improvenicnts of the public buildings was an item for putting a new shutter on the court house. This was enougii for him, and he at once began an agitation of the subject through the columns of his paper, and week after week alluded to the thii ty-se\en-thousand-dollar window shutter, until he liad all of the Republicans, and half of the Democrats in the county believing that it actually cost that amount.

He had a full sized cut of it in his paper standing during the entire campaign, and the papers in the neighboring towns took it uj) and it became a topic of general talk over the State that Madison county had a shutter on its couit house that cost $37,0()0. In the street parades, at political meetings, wherever the Republicans had speakings, the window shutter was on hand ; some one always brought up the rear with a transparency with the shutter p'inted on it.

This shutter was tinally taken otT the court house and carried in a procession at Indianapolis at the " State ralK' '" that year, and caused an endless amount of mirth.

The Democrats wished many times before the election came around that the shutter was in hades, and Hardesty close by, but the shutter was still there ; it would not down.

Whilst the agitation on this subject did not defeat the candidates of that year, on the Democratic ticket, it '' laid the egg" for a grand cleaning out in the election in the ne.\;t campaign.

In the year 1870, the succeeding election for State and county officers, but two of the Democratic candidates were elected, the Clerk of the courts and the Coroner, and the)- had no opposition, or they would probably have fared the same as their rimuing mates.

To John O. Hardesty, more than any other person, is due the credit of turning the tide in a county with a solid majority of 80() against his party, and landing the candidates of his political complexion in the best offices in the gift of the voters in the community.

The window shutter, and the waj' it was handled bv Hardesty, was a play that was hard to beat, and one that argument would not serve to change.

We doubt if Mr. Hardesty is fully appreciated by the newer and younger members of his party, from the fact that he at one time moved away from the county, and for a time lost his identity, but the old-timers well remember his stnig-

Some .Severe Tornadoes

The first tornado or cyclone in Madison county known to the old settlers occurred in 1828, about three and one-half miles south of Anderson. It was one-half mile wide, the efi"ects of which were for a long time known as the '' Fallen Timber," having felled the forests, in its track. The next was in 1843. It commenced a little northwest of Pendleton, passed east through what is known as the Dismal " to the north of Huntsville, then up the gravel ridge just south of Anderson, ending about where the Big Four and Pan Handle railroads cross. ^\long the ridge or hill road to Huntsville large trees were blown out by the roots. Little mounds of earth still show ^vhere it swept through.

The third was in the west part of the county, in 1853. Its course was just south of Perkinsville, east and northeast. It took the second stor\' off of Daniel Wises brick house, an account of which appears elsewhere. It passed south of Florida. Some men who were building the grade for the Pan Handle railroad, seeing the storm approaching, took shelter in a log house close by. One man, probably more timid than the others, huddled down in one corner and said : "Now, Billv," meaning the wind, " see what you can do ; do vour best.'" The words had scarcely left his lips when the house ^vas blown from its foundation. Another man ran out and caught hold of a small bush and was terribl}' bruised and shaken up. He, so far as reports go, was the onlv man hurt by the tornado.

In June, 1880, a fourth severe tornado passed over this county. It commenced in Hamilton countv, literallj- sweeping the town of Cicero, injuring (juite a number of people. It came into this county about Perkinsville. and in its eastern course took ofi' for the second time the roof of Daniel Wise's house. The repaired walls show the extent of the damage. It did considerable damage in its course, striking very hard in the west side of the Joseph (jroff farm, four miles northwest of Anderson, where it completely demolished about twentyacres of timber ; farther east it did but little damage. Bolts of dry goods were found in its track, probalilv from the v\recked stores at Cicero.

over the north part of the county, about lialt waj' betwcLMi Frankton and Elwood, May 12, 188ti, strikin<r \\ith terrible force the old Caleb Canaday homestead, destroying the house and barn and doing other damage. The house was all blown away except a room occupied bv the family. The " nigger head"' corner stone of the barn was turned out of its place. James Legg's residence, close by, was made a perfect wreck, killing his son John, breaking an arm and leg for his wife and otherwise injuring her. The balance of the family escaped with less serious injury. Its ravages extended through the county. This, so far as now can be ascertained, was the only fatality.

Prior to the civil war there were but few colored jieople in Madison county, and but little respect was paid to the few who did live here. In fact, they were not looked upon as human beings by most people. The only ones who had any sympathy for the colored brother were the Abolitionists, who were but few, and confined to the Qiiakers and their descendants.

A striking illustration of how the colored man was held by his wiiite brother is to be found in the record of deeds at Anderson, where there is recorded a deed to a piece of land in Monroe township, in which the land is conveyed to the " State of Indiana for the purposes of a burying ground so long as the same may be used therefor, provided that no ' nigger " shall ever be buried therein, in which case the land shall revert to the owner and his heirs."' The name of the donor is withheld, as it is useless, at this late day of enlightenment, to stir up the old feeling that at that time existed, besides, no doubt, the one who conveyed the land has long since relented, and has a warm place in his heart for the sons of Ham.

^\'hile the pioneer farmers had their l"un and frolics at the logrollings and house raisings, the good old mothers tlitl not miss tlieir opportunities to liave an entertainment once in awhile.

In the spring of the year after the flock had been sheared and the fleeces washed, they invited in the neighbor women and indulged in a " wool-picking," which consisted in picking the " burrs '" and '- Spanish needles " from the wool, so that it could be prepared for market, and for the spinninj^-wheel. These gatherings were what the ladies now term " hen parties," no men being allowed to take part in the proceedings.

The guests parceled out to themselves a task of quilting, while the hostess prepared a sumptuous repast which was served after the day was spent. While these gatherings were a help among the neighbors, with their manv labors, they also served as a pastime, and to lighten the path fif life through the wilderness in which they lived.

Thestoiies told of the wool-pickings and quilting-bees, bv the old ladies who took part in them would make an interesting book. There are but few left now who can relate personal e.xperiences in these scenes of long ago.

The loom and the spinning-wheel are things that represent an age gone by, and there is just here and there one who remembers the days of their usefulness.

The first thing the early settler did after entering his land from the government, was to " deaden " several acres of the dense forest covering his possessions. In the course of a vear the timber would die and become sufficienth" dry to be easily burned. The trees were felled with axes and prepared for the log iieap. The process of getting the logs in proper lengths was generally by building fires across them at different places and " niggering'" them off by throwing one log across another and firing them, then it would not take long to burn them in twain. The owner of the land and his family consisting of male and female members, would spend davs and nights in the clearing, and through smoke and fire, would work without cessation until several acres were prepared for the " log rolling." Then the neighbors for miles around were invited and a rolling "bee'' was indulged in.

While this was a hard job, it was also a time for great joy and merriment. It was the time for all to congregate and exchange greetings, and between the hours of labor and refreshments give themselves up to story telling and merrv making, the whole ending at night with a dance where voung and old enjoyed themselves in boundless mirth.

shaved and prepared tor the purpose, calletl " hand-spikes,"' generally from four to six under each log. The men would pair off in twos, one at each end of the spike and there's where the "tall lifting" set in. A man would lather be buried alive than to be " lifted down." The logs would be carried to some favorable spot and piled in heaps ready to burn, and when the rolling was over the heaps were tired. The fires in the clearings were a beautiful sight to behold at night, ligiiting up the skies for miles around.

At these rollings whisky was always furnisiieil in copious quantities. Some would become hilarious, while others wi>uld get "full," but good feeling generally prevailed, although there haYe been cases where old grudges were settled between enemies by hand-to-hand tights when they happened to meet in the clearing.

The men of those daj's generally dressed in homespun clothing, consisting of a hunting shirt made of '- linsey " with pants, coat and vest of blue jeans. In this rough garb their hearts beat with honest pride as they toiletl for their future wealth and greatness.

In those days at the log rollings many used oxen to assist in bunching the logs for the heaps. Many of the present generation have never seen a " yoke " of o.xen. They were not only beasts of burden fifty years ago in the woods in logging, but served as a means of hauling wagons upon the roads.

An early scene along the old National Road, and the road leading to Strawtown, was one of a continual stream of ox wagons, moving the pioneers to the wilds of their new homes in the far west.

The yellow hound was also an accompaniment to the ox wagon. He generally brought up the rear of the procession, keeping faithful watch over the children and the faniilv cow that followed behind.

At the log rollings and barn raisings there was as muL-h formality and etiquette in some respects as prevails among the " swell " society people of to-day. When a new comer made his advent into a neighborhood he was the recipient of all favors, and made the guest of honor on all occasions until he was duly initiated into the ways of the new home he had sought in the wilderness. If he proved true, and was made of the proper material, he soon was one of the community in all its meaning; if not, he was in a \ery short time dropped. It did not take the neighbors long to form an opinion of the

The fellow who alwajs had fault to find with the ways of the country and was continually comparing the mode of procedure with the way they did "in yander" where he came from, and making unfavorable comments of this sort, was set down as an ass, or what we would in this day say, a '- smart Alec," and the people had but little use for him.

In the days of " the cabin in the clearing ,'' of which the Hon. Ben. Parker, of Xewcastle, has so sweetly sung, the "Johnny cake " cut quite a figure. To bake a "Johnny cake" was an accomplishment that any woman was proud to possess. The cake was made of corn meal and water, being well mixed with lard for " shortning." and laid on a board and set up in front of the lireplacc, which generally occupied one whole end of the cabin, and was baked by the heat thrown out from the tire of huge logs rolled in by the sturdy pioneer. Some times a gnod fat opossum was served with the "Johnny cake" with an abundance of "sop"' for the children. A person who did not like that kind of eating was at once set down as not being properlj' "raised."

Who ever sat in front of one of those old-fashioned fire places and looked into the fiaming lire as it threw out its warming raj'S, and listened to the lullaby of the mother's evening song, that does not wish that he could wander back to those scenes of simplicity, and for a time live over aj^ain the happy moments thus spent?

It would not be exaggeration to say that a million dollars worth of timber has been burned in log heaps in Madison county. Many handsome walnut trees have thus been devoured in order to get them out of the way of the plow, that would now be worth at least one hundred dollars each.

For a number of years it has been customary at intervals to have meetings in different parts of the county, of the old settlers, for the purpose of talking over old times and mingling together in amusement and speech making. The first meeting of this kind of which we can find any record, was one held in Pendleton in 185(5. Among the prominent persons who took an active part on this occasion and made speeches were [ohn Markle, Able fohnson, Samuel D. Irish, John H. Cook. Conrad Crossley, Thomas Silver and Isaac Busbv. \\ e

In the vear of 1873, another meeting was held at Alexdria, in luly, which was largely attended by people from different parts of the county.

The next meeting of importance took place in the jear 1874, on the banks of White river, near the village of Perkinsville, which was largely attended by Ijoth the residents of Madison and Hamilton counties. The meeting was called to order by Andrew McKenzie, of Hamilton county. (General J. D. Stevenson, of Noblesville, was elected president, and the Rev. J. F. Rhodes, of Perkinsville, was elected secretarv. The meeting was addressed by Rev. John W. Forest, Ji'dge Johnathan Colburn, James HoUingswortli, Noah Waymire, H . G. Finch and Thomas L. Beck with. A good deal of merriment was occasioned by the speech of Mr. Finch, who gave it as his opinion that the country would be better off without either ministers or churches. Various relics of the pioneer times of the county were e.xhibited, among which was an old *' shot pouch " and powder horn, worn by a Mr. Fislier. who was killed by the Indians, not far from where this meeting was held, an account of which is given elsewhere. A permanent organization was effected for the two counties by Thomas L. Beckwith being elected corresponding secretary and General Stevenson president.

At various times since, there have been other meetings of the old settlers at different points in the county, but it seems that no attempt had been made to keep up a regular organization, and the meetings were held simply by calls being signet! by ditTerent persons, which assembled them together.

One of the largest meetings held for many years, occurred at Chesterfiekl in the year 1887, at which Judge Winburn R. Pierse, Hon. James W. Sansberry, Samuel Myers, W. C. Fleming and many old timers, delivered addresses. This meeting was on White river, north of the \illage, near a gas well on W. B. I?ronnenberg's farm.

At a meeting held at the court house in Anilerson, on the Kith of July, 1894, upon the call of Samuel Hardin, Rufus H. Williams and others, steps were taken to more thoroughly organize the Old Settlers Association, since which time thev have held annual meetings and a record of their proceedings has been kept. John L. Forkner presided, and William P. Newman acted as secretary at this meeting. It was decided to hold the first annual meeting at Ruddle's grove on the ;}Oth of August, of that year. Francis Watkins was chosen president and a vice-president was elected for the association for each township in the county.

When the day of the meeting arrived a large concourse of people assembled in the beautiful grove and were welcomed to the city by the Hon. John H. Terhune, at that time Mayor. Addresses were made by J. M. Farlovv, Hon. James W. Sansberry, Dr. Ward Cook, of Pendleton, James Hollingsworth, Samuel Myers, Hon. David S. Gooding, of Greenfield, Charles Fisher, of Fishersburg, Abisha Lewis and many otheis whose names if recorded here would occupy too much space. The oldest married couple in the county was present in the persons of Samuel and Rebecca Stevenson, of Anderson township, they having lived in the holy bonds of wedlock for tiie term of sixty-three years. The Lapel brass band under the leadership of Prof. D. K. Elliott, furnished most excellent music for the occasion. The venerable Samuel Myers, in his address predicteol that this would be his last meeting with the association, which proved true.

The next annual nit'eting was held on the '2{)th of August, 1895, at the same place. Francis Watkins, the president of the association, being absent, the meeting was called to order by James Hollingsworth, and Hon. M. M. Diinlap, Mayor of Anderson, welcomed the visitors in a very happv speech and extended to them the freedom of the city. The weather being very threatening, it was not so largely attended as the former one, but a general good feeling prevailed and a very happy time was had by those who were in attendance. Among those who addressed the meeting were Dr. William Suman, Byron H. Dyson, James HoUingswortii, W. V. Shanklin, Mrs. Lucinda Harden, Mrs. G. N. Hilligoss and Abisha Lewis. Dr. N. L. Wickersham read an original poem prepared by himself for this special occasion which contained many good points in reference to the old cabin days, which was well received and was highly entertaining to those who had the pleasure of listening to it. At this meeting a committee was selected consisting of Edward Roberts, Neil Mauzy and Thomas Harmeson, to select names for permanent officers of the association for the next year, who accordingly reported for president, Samuel Hardin ; secretary, John L. Forkner, and treasurer. David Conrad. Thev appointed a meeting to take place at the same locality one year hence.

These meetings have thus kept alive the spirit and enthusiasm of the old settlers of Madison county and by keepinij a record of their annual proceedings in the years to come it will be interesting to the new generation to peruse the account of their doings and sayings.

A)iia1ga)iiati\i Association of I. S. if- 7\ P. (/'. of A. - President, Thomas K. Thomas ; vice-president, John J. Jones; secretary, John Chappell.

Source changes here: from History of Madison County Indiana (Volume 1), by John L. Forkner, published 1914; 8,554 words in this source stream.

Anderson Township

Location - First Known as Andersontown - First Incorporation - Change of Name - Second Incorporation - Becomes a City - First City Officials - Public Utilities - Water Works - Electric Lighting Plant - Fire Department - Police Department - Sewer¬ age System - Street Railway - The ' 4 Mule Motor" - Electric Lines - Illuminating Gas - Postoffice - Some Historic Hotels - First Newspaper - A Political Drug Store - Board of Trade - First City Directory - Sketches of the Mayors - Statistics and Comment .97

Location - First Known as Andersontown - First Incorporation - Change op Name - Second Incorporation - Becomes a City - First City Officials - Public Utilities - Water Works - Electric Lighting Plant - Fire Department - Police Department - Sewer¬ age System - Street Railway - The 4 4 Mule Motor ' ' - Electric Lines - Illuminating Gas - Postoffice - Some Historic Hotels - First Newspaper - A Political Drug Store - Board of Trade - First City Directory - Sketches of the Mayors - Statistics and Comment.

Anderson, the county seat of Madison county, is pleasantly situated on an eminence on the south side of the White river, about five miles southeast of the geographical center of the county and thirty-nine miles northeast of Indianapolis, the capital of the state. It is located upon the site formerly occupied by the Delaware chief, Kikthawenund, or Captain Anderson, for whom the city was named. The records show that the original site in section 12, embracing 320 acres, was entered by Wil¬ liam Conner previous to the organization of the county. He after¬ ward sold it to John Berry, who in 1823 laid out the first plat of the town and on November 7, 1827, conveyed a considerable portion of it to the county in consideration of the seat of justice being permanently located there. The following year the business of the county was re¬ moved from Pendleton, which prior to that time had been the seat of justice by common consent.

During the first ten years of its existence the growth of Anderson¬ town, as the place was at first called, was rather slow. In 1837 the population did not exceed two hundred people. That year witnessed the introduction of the system of internal improvements throughout the state and 4 4 Andersontown' ' began to wake up. One of the enter¬ prises projected by the boqrd of internal improvements was the Indiana Central canal (a branch of the Wabash & Erie), which was to leave the main canal 4 4 at the most suitable point between Fort Wayne and Logansport, running thence to Muncietown, thence to Indianapolis," etc. As this branch of the canal system would pass Anderson it had the effect of almost doubling the population within two years. It was dur¬ ing this period that the subject of incorporating the town first came up for consideration, and, although there was considerable opposition to such a proceeding, the legislature that met in December, 1838, passed an act 4 4 to incorporate the town of Andersontown, in Madison county, containing 350 inhabitants. ''

Pursuant to this act, the county commissioners, at their January session in 1839 ordered "That an election be held at the court-house in said town, by the citizens of said town, on Monday, the 21st day of January, instant, for the purpose of electing trustees and appointing officers to govern the town, and upon the citizens complying with this order, the said town is hereby and thereafter to be considered an incor¬ porated town."

Almost immediately after the town was incorporated came the dis¬ couraging news that the work of internal improvements projected by the state was suspended, and that the canal which had promised mate¬ rial growth and prosperity to the budding city was never to become a reality. A decline in population followed and with it a decline in the interests of town corporation, which lost its vitality and finally died a natural death. Anderson was then a village for about fifteen years, or until the summer of 1853, when it was incorporated for the second time.

In the meantime Robert N. Williams, county auditor, and James Hazlett, county clerk, on behalf of the citizens, went before the legis¬ lature of 1844-45 and presented a request to have the name of the town changed to Anderson, dropping the last syllable of the old name of "Andersontown," on the ground that the name was too cumbersome and did not sound well. The petition was granted by the general as¬ sembly and since that time the official name of the place has been "Anderson," though many years elapsed before the old settlers could break themselves of the habit of using the old name.

With the completion of the Indianapolis & Bellefontaine Railroad through Madison county, and the establishment of a station at Ander¬ son in 1852, the town soon began to manifest signs of increased busi¬ ness activity and the necessity for a town government became apparent. Consequently a public meeting was called for the evening of April 25, 1853, at the court-house, for the purpose of considering the ques¬ tion of incorporation. At that meeting Samuel Myers presided and P. H. Lemon acted as secretary. After some discussion, Dr. Townsend Ryan offered a resolution declaring that it was the sense of the meet¬ ing that Anderson should be incorporated as a town under the laws of the state of Indiana. The resolution was adopted almost unanimously and on motion of Milton S. Robinson, John Davis, Townsend Ryan and Nineveh Berry were appointed a committee to fix the town boundaries. Armstrong Taylor was appointed to take a census of the population. Steps were also taken for the circulation of a petition to be presented to the board of county commissioners at the next regular session.

The commissioners met on June 6, 1853 (the first Monday), and on Thursday following John Davis, J. C. Thompson and J. W. Sansberry appeared before the board and filed an application for the incorporation of the town, which application was accompanied by a map or plat, showing the bounds as surveyed by Nineveh Berry. After the applica¬ tion and plat had been examined by the commissioners, the following action was taken:

"And the board being satisfied that the requirements of the statutes, in such case made and provided, have been fully complied with, it is therefore ordered that the said territory included and embodied in the voters of the said territory to be incorporated are hereby notified to meet at the courthouse in said town on Saturday the 16th day of July next to determine whether said territory shall be incorporated/ ' etc.

For some reason not apparent, the election was held on Tuesday, June 28, 1853, instead of on the date fixed by the commissioners. James W. Sansberry, Burket Eads and S. B. Mattox were the election in¬ spectors. The result was thirty-six votes in favor of incorporation and one against the proposition. The town government established at this time lasted for about twelve years, when some of the leading citizens, believing that Anderson had outgrown a municipal organization of that nature, took steps to organize a city government. For some time the subject was canvassed and on August 28, 1865, an election was held to decide whether the old form of government should continue or Ander¬ son should become incorporated as a .city. At that election 217 votes were cast, 207 of which were in favor of a city government and only ten in the negative. The next step was to comply with the requirements of the state laws and obtain a charter. When this was done the city was divided into three wards and the first election for city officers was held with the following results: Mayor, Robert N. Williams; clerk, C. D. Thompson; treasurer, Joseph Fulton; marshal, M. N. Harriman; city prosecutor, E. Y. Long; councilmen - First ward, John D. Mershon and Stephen Noland; second ward, Eli B. Goodykoontz and George Nichol; third ward, Winbum R. Pierse and Benjamin Sebrell.

Following is a list of the city officials in 1913: Frank P. Foster, mayor; Maurice Collins, clerk; John C. Williams, controller; Otis P. Crim, treasurer; Charles T. Sansberry, city attorney; George A. Lanphear, city engineer; Charles G. Alford, chief of the fire department; John B. Pritchard, superintendent of police; Henry C. Brown and Edward F. Staton, councilmen-at-large; J. H. Mellette, councilman first ward; Fred T. Barber, councilman second ward; Edgar Tupman, councilman third ward. The board of public works is composed of H. C. Brown, F. T. Barber and Edgar Tupman, and the board of health of Drs. E. W. Chittenden, W. A. Lail and J. A. Long.

In the matter of electric light and water works, Anderson has suc¬ cessfully solved the problem of municipal ownership. Prior to 1885 the city was without fire protection and after several disastrous fires had occurred the citizens decided in favor of the establishment of some system of water works. An appropriation of $20,000 was made as a starter, and L. J. Burr, T. M. Norton and H. J. Bronnenberg were ap¬ pointed trustees. On account of an injury received in an accident on August 22, 1888, Mr. Bronnenberg resigned and was succeeded by Harrison Canaday. A building was erected and two pumps - each hav¬ ing a capacity of one million gallons daily - were installed. About five miles of mains were laid and forty-five hydrants placed in position by July, 1886, when the pumps were started for the first time. It was thought when this plant was erected and equipped that it would be suffi¬ cient to supply the city's needs for the next twenty-five years. But the water works had but fairly started when natural gas was discov-

Meetings of the water works trustees and the city council were called to consider what was best to be done in the emergency, and in the spring of 1892 an appropriation of $65,000 for enlarging the plant was made. It was soon discovered that the entire works would have to be practically rebuilt. The mains were too small to deliver a larger sup¬ ply of water than they were already delivering; new buildings were necessary to accommodate the large pumps and boilers necessary to meet the demand, and the result was a bond issue of about $150,000 to secure the funds for the purpose of putting in a water works system that would be large enough to supply the constantly increasing ^demand for water. Larger mains were laid from the pumping station and the old ones used in a secondary capacity. Two duplex compound pumps with a daily capacity of eight million gallons were purchased and installed in a new building and the boiler capacity was increased in proportion. According to the report of Henry Drach, superintendent of the water works, for the year ending on December 31, 1912, the value of the buildings and machinery was, in round numbers $112,220, and the amount of water furnished to consumers during the year was 501,451,- 250 gallons. During the year about three miles of new mains were laid.

Soon after the present plant went into operation the water works trustees and the city authorities agreed upon the plan of charging the city $1,500 a month for water furnished to the fire hydrants, public buildings, etc., that amount to be paid from the general fund. This plan was followed until 1912, when the charges were reduced to $1,250 per month, or $15,000 for the year. This is no more than the city would have had to pay a private corporation for water, and by this method the water works have been placed upon a paying basis. Bonds to the amount of $20,000 were redeemed during the year 1912 from the earnings of the system, leaving bonds outstanding to the amount of $37,000, which the board expects to redeem from the earnings of 1913. In addition to this all the operating expenses, salaries, etc., were paid from the earnings and at the close of the year there was a net balance on hand of over $7,000. Notwithstanding this, the rate to consumers is much below that usually charged in cities the size of Anderson, the average rate for a family occupying a house of eight rooms being about $8.50 annually, large consumers being supplied at a somewhat lower rate.

In 1903 there were a number of cases of typhoid fever in the city that were charged to the water furnished by the water works, the supply coming from the White river and being delivered to consumers without being filtered or purified in any way. To obviate this diffi¬ culty, a Continental-Jewell filtering system was put in at a cost of about $66,000, and since then there have been no more typhoid cases traceable to the city water. There are now nearly forty-five miles of mains, 379 fire hydrants and about 3,200 private consumers.

tween Tenth and Eleventh streets, in 1885. He made a contract with the city to furnish current to the arc lights in the streets and alleys, but made no effort to secure private consumers. In 1892 Charles L. Henry acquired the street railway interests and changed the old mule power to electricity. About the same time he purchased Mr. Bosworth's plant, contracts and good will and continued to supply the city with street light until 1896. He then built the first interurban line from Anderson to Alexandria and offered the electric lighting plant to the city. His offer was accepted and the purchase price of $48,000 was paid in notes, all of which have since been paid from the earnings, so that the municipal electric lighting plant has really cost the taxpayers of the city nothing.

natural gas was in the zenith of its glory. The price of gas was so low that many people preferred to use it for lighting purposes on account of the cost. There were then two hundred arc lights in the streets, and for keeping these supplied with current and in good repair the city paid $18,000 annually from the general fund - about what it would have cost to have taken light from a private corporation. This charge was reduced to $15,000 for the year 1913. Although the charge to the city was reduced $3,000 for that year, there were then 325 arc lights, or 125 more than when the first charge of $18,000 a year was taken from the general fund to pay for street lighting. In 1903 notes to the amount of $60,000 were issued to rebuild the plant and these notes have all been paid from the earnings, the transmission has been greatly improved and the cost of service has been reduced. The total receipts of the lighting department for the year 1912 were, in round numbers, $127,000, and there was a net balance of over $20,000 on hand at the close of the year, though nearly $15,000 in bonds were paid from the year's earn¬ ings. The department also holds $32,500 of Anderson city bonds as an investment. Edmund Burke is the superintendent of the plant. Through the successful management of the municipal lighting and water depart¬ ments the city tax rate has been reduced from $1.08 in 1905 to 65 cents in 1913. It is estimated by the city controller that the net earnings of the lighting plant for the year 1913 will reach $70,000.

The first effort to organize a fire department for the city was made in the early '70s, when -John P. Barnes and Charles T. Doxey, then members of the city council, urged upon that body the necessity of pro¬ viding some protection against loss by fire. Through their influence the council was induced to authorize the purchase of a Silsby engine at a cost of $7,000. After the engine arrived it was useless without an ade¬ quate water supply and some of the citizens, seeing that a large expend¬ iture of money would have to be made in erecting buildings, construct¬ ing cisterns, etc., applied to the circuit court for an injunction. A temporary restraining order was granted by the court and pending further hearing the engine was locked up in a building on West Eighth street, where it remained until the case was decided against the council by the circuit court of Henry county, where it had been taken on a change of venue. Such was the manner in which the first attempt to establish a fire department ended in failure.

Some years later, while James Hazlett was mayor, he and H. H. Conrad, a member of the city council, after much argument, prevailed upon the council to purchase a small hand engine and a hook and ladder apparatus at a cost of $600. A shed was erected by order of the council on east Eighth street, at the first alley east of the public square, where the engine was kept for several years. There was no organized department, the citizens turning out on an alarm of fire to man the engine, and at one time this little machine saved the east side of the public square from destruction when a fire broke out in the Grunewald building.

In 1886, while the water works were under construction, a petition was presented to the city council asking for the organization of a volunteer fire department. On August 13, 1886, a meeting was held in the mayor's office and fifty-seven men enrolled themselves as members of the volunteer department. By-laws, rules and regulations were adopted for the government of the department; Amos Coburn was elected chief; C. K. McCullough, assistant chief; S. A. Towell, secretary; Bart Proud, captain of Hose Company No. 1; Jesse Talmage, captain of Hose Company No. 2; John Ewing, captain of the Hook and Ladder Company. Headquarters were secured in the basement of the court-house and the first Friday in each month was selected as the time for holding regular meetings. Soon after the organization was perfected the city council furnished the members with rubber coats, boots, fire hats, etc. The citizens gave the volunteers a banquet, which encouraged them to do their best, and the movement was pronounced a success. At last Anderson had a fire department.

At the time this department was organized the fire fighting apparatus consisted of two hand reels, 1,000 feet of hose, the old hand engine and a hook and ladder truck. Better hose was soon afterward provided by the city council and members of the department were allowed two dollars each for attendance at a fire. In the spring of 1887 Amos Cobum resigned as chief and was succeeded by Samuel A. Towell. A year later two horses were purchased and Edward Wilcox was employed as a regular driver - the first paid man in the department. Three additional men were placed on the pay roll at forty dollars a month in 1889; the chief's salary was fixed at $100 per annum; the two old hand reels were replaced by a one-horse reel, and further improvements were added. The Ganewell alarm system was installed in 1890, a hose wagon was purchased and the building at the corner of Central avenue and Eighth street was erected for the use of the department. As soon as the building was com¬ pleted two new members were added to the department and the salary of firemen was fixed at forty-five dollars a month. The chief's salary was also increased. Three years later the department was converted into a full paid force of thirteen men. This was done on motion of John L. Forkner, who at that time represented the Second ward in the city council. The same year a building was erected at the comer of Seventeenth street and Madison avenue and Hose Company No. 2 was there stationed.

In 1913 the department consisted of Charles G. Alford, chief; Philip Hollingsworth, assistant chief; four captains; two lieutenants; three laddermen, and twelve pipemen. The city now owns four buildings, viz.: The Central Station at the corner of Eighth street and Central avenue, where a chemical engine and the hook and ladder truck are stationed, and where the chief maintains his headquarters; Hose Company No. 2, at the corner of Madison avenue and Seventeenth street; Hose Company No. 3, at the corner of Columbus avenue and Twenty-first street; and Hose Company No. 4, at the comer of Third and Hendricks streets.

In his report for the year ending on December 31, 1912, Chief Alford said: 6 ' I wish to call your attention to the automobile fire apparatus. A great many cities are installing it with a view of increasing the efficiency as well as decreasing the cost of maintenance." Acting upon his sug¬ gestion, the city purchased an automobile chemical engine in the summer of 1913 at a cost of about $2,200. This engine is an Anderson product, having been built by the Nyberg Automobile Works expressly for the city fire department.

When Anderson was first incorporated as a city in 1865, the only police officer was the city marshal. In 1889 the marshal's office was abolished by an act of the state legislature and the metropolitan police system was introduced. Under the operations of this system the duty of keeping order and enforcing the ordinances and laws is vested in a board of three commissioners. At the close of the year 1912 the board of police commissioners was composed of Carl K. Stephens, Ralph B. Clark and Fred Mustard. Carl K. Stephens is president and John B. Pritchard, who is also superintendent of the police force, is secretary. The police force proper is made up of the superintendent, one captain, one sergeant, a clerk, a humane officer, a bailiff, a motorcycle man, a detective, and seven patrolmen. In addition to this regular force there are four special patrolmen with full police powers at the American Steel and Wire Works, two at Mounds Park and two at the Remy Electric

No effort was ever made to dispose of Anderson's sewage until after the discovery of natural gas. This is no reflection upon the city nor upon the character of its inhabitants, as it has long been a custom in country towns and smaller cities to let the sewage 4 4 t$ike care of itself. '' At the time natural gas was discovered the population of the city was estimated at about 6,000. The United States census for 1890 - three years later showed it to be 10,741. With this phenomenal increase in population it became evident that some sanitary precautions were neces¬ sary if the health of the people was to be preserved and their comfort taken into consideration.

In January, 1891, the city engineer, Henry Rawie, was instructed to investigate the subject and report upon the plan of a sewerage system and the cost of its construction. Mr. Rawie at once opened a correspond¬ ence with George E. Warring, of Newport, Rhode Island, a sanitary engineer of national reputation, and after a consultation with Mr. Warring the council instructed the city engineer to make a map of the city, showing its topography and the location of the proposed sewers. When this map was completed it was submitted to the city council for consideration. That body approved the plans of the city engineer and advertised for sealed proposals for the construction of the sewers as shown on the map. On July 15, 1891, a contract was entered into between the city and the firm of Kinser and Tuhey, of Terre Haute, Indiana, for the installation of a sewerage system, the contract price being $71,900.

The contractors began immediately and prosecuted the work so well that before the close of the year 1892 the entire system was pronounced complete, accepted by the city and paid for according to the contract. The cost of the sewerage system was assessed against the lots benefited thereby and was paid for by the property holders under what was known as the Barrett law, which gave them the privilege of making their pay¬ ments in ten annual installments.

Mr. Rawie's plan was at first severely criticised as being too elaborate and expensive, but he was a man of progressive ideas who believed in building for the future as well as the present. The system of sewers built under his supervision as city engineer has been in use for more than twenty years, and even those who were most free with their criticisms now acknowledge that he was right. The members of the city council who favored the scheme also came in for a share of the condemnation, but after almost another generation has come upon the scene of action they feel that their course has been fully sustained by the city's sanitary condition during that period. No trouble has ever been experienced with any of Anderson's sewers, for the reason that they were constructed according to the most approved methods known, and it is quite probable that few cities of the same class have as good a system.

Along with other municipal improvements that followed the discovery of natural gas was a street railway system. As soon as Anderson began her great strides forward in 1887, several persons of a speculative turn of mind visited the city to look over the field with a view to the establish- ment of street car traffic on the principal streets and to the outlying suburbs. On August 19, 1887, the city council granted a twelve-years* franchise to Seldon R. and D. C. Williams, of Lebanon, Tennessee, authorizing them to construct and maintain a street railway in Anderson. Work was commenced soon afterward upon the line on Meridian street, running from the Big Four to the Pan Handle passenger stations. In order to accommodate travelers by enabling them to reach the principal hotels, changes were made in the route as originally intended, the line running from the Big Four station north on Meridian street to Tenth, east on Tenth to Main, north on Main to Ninth, west .on Ninth to Meridian,

On the morning of September 6, 1888, the citizens of Anderson were treated to the unusual spectacle of a street car, drawn by mules, passing over the route above described. That evening the road was formally opened, the railway company engaging the Riverside Park band and inviting a number of prominent citizens to enjoy a free ride. The com¬ pany had but two cars, each with a capacity of about twenty people. In the front car was the band, closely followed by the second car in which were the guests. Along the route the sidewalks were crowded with people to congratulate themselves and the city that the "walking days were over. 7 * portion. The service, however, was not what the people had been led to expect and it is doubtful if dividends were ever realized upon the investment while the 4 'mule motor" was in use. Under these conditions the founders of the system were glad when an opportunity presented itself for them to dispose of their interests to the Anderson Electric Street Railway Company, which was organized early in 1892 by Charles L. Henry, of Anderson, and Philip Matter, of Marion, Indiana. As soon as the new company came into possession of the street railway electric power was installed, and the first electric car made its appearance on the streets of Anderson at 2 o'clock p. m. on March 12, 1892.

It has been said that capital is timid and not likely to seek investment unless it is fully protected. But in this ease the reverse is true. At the time the mules were discarded and electric power introduced by the new company it had no franchise for the use of the streets. Messrs. Henry, Matter and their associates felt confident that the people would appreciate the improvement in the service and that the city council would be willing to grant them a franchise upon liberal terms. They were not mistaken, for on May 30, 1892, the council granted the new company a franchise for thirty years. As soon as this was done the company began the work of rebuilding the lines. The old iron rails were taken up and heavy steel rails were put in their place. Old lines were extended and new ones constructed. A large power house was built and a better class of cars was put into service. Anderson was the first city in the gas belt to boast of an electric street railway, and it is a matter for congratulation that the company w r as composed of local capitalists whose interests were identical with those of the people. In

1896 Mr. Henry constructed the electric line from Anderson to Alex¬ andria, which was the beginning of central Indiana's great interurban system of electric railways now operated by the Union Traction Company.

Long before the discovery of natural gas or the introduction of electric lights, Anderson was lighted by artificial, or manufactured gas. Soon after the city was incorporated in 1865 Milton N. Harriman, then city marshal, and John P. Barnes, a member of the city council, secured the erection o£ iron posts through the business section, upon each of which was placed a kerosene lamp. These were Anderson's first street lights. In 1875 the city made a contract with G. F. Good, of Astabula, Ohio, and H. C. Bardwell, of New York, to light the streets with gas and gave them the use of the streets for a period of twenty years. The gas plant - a comparatively small affair - was completed on July 2, 1875, and on the evening of the 3d gas was used for lighting purposes for the first time in Anderson. The gas was of good quality and was so far supe¬ rior to any light that had preceded it that in a short time the company was taxed to its full capacity to supply the demand.

About a year later N. C. McCullough, one of the most energetic and progressive of Anderson's citizens, saw that the enterprise was a paying proposition and purchased the plant of the original builders. He con¬ tinued the manufacture of illuminating gas successfully until the discovery of natural gas in 1887. In the summer of that year Mr. McCullough merged his interests in the Anderson Gas and Oil Company. The first gas plant stood at the corner of Twelfth and Main streets and remained there until Mr. McCullough sank a gas well in what was then known as McCullough Park, at the east end of Eighth street. This gas well, known as ' 4 Vesuvius," w r as the largest ever opened in the Madison county gas field, having a capacity of 10,000,000 cubic feet per day. Mr. McCullough then removed the gas plant to East Eighth street, enlarged the capacity to meet the demands of the community, and for a year thereafter mixed natural gas with the manufactured product, furnishing the citizens with gas for lighting purposes at a cheap rate until the consolidation of the artificial and natural gas interests. Charles T. Doxey then became a stockholder and the Anderson Gas and Oil Company absorbed the artificial plant, w ? hich was consolidated w r ith the Citizens' Gas Company and the artificial plant passed out of existence. The old plant, that stood idle for many years, with its franchise, was purchased by the late C. W. Hooven and is now a part of the system operated by the Central Indiana Gas Company, though the old retorts and buildings have been dismantled and a new plant erected.

A postoffice was established at Anderson in 1831 and Robert N. Williams was appointed postmaster. He was also auditor and clerk of the county and kept the postoffice in the clerk's office. At that time Anderson was a station on the mail route running from Indianapolis to Centerville, via Noblesville, Perkinsville, Anderson and Newcastle. The mails were carried on horseback, the post-rider making tw T o trips a week. In 1839 Mr. Williams was succeeded by Nineveh Berry. It is said that when a mail would arrive Colonel Berry would place the letters in his hat and start out to deliver them to the persons to whom they were addressed. From this fact he is credited with being the first postmaster to introduce the free delivery system in Indiana, but the actual free delivery system in Anderson was introduced by Postmaster H. J. Daniels on June 3, 1890, when four carriers appointed by him and confirmed by the government went into service. Shortly after that the number was increased by the addition of two carriers and in 1893 four more were added.

For many years the postoffice was kept in such buildings as could be secured at a reasonable rental. In May, 1841, the county commissioners rented a room in the court-house to Postmaster Berry, for which he was to pay three dollars a month "so long as he remains in the same." The present postoffice building at the northeast corner of Eleventh and Jackson streets was erected by the Federal government at a cost of $85,000, and was opened for business in August, 1906. In 1913 the persons employed in the office were the postmaster, assistant postmaster, fifteen clerks, two substitute clerks, fifteen city carriers, two substitute carriers for the city and thirteen rural carriers. The receipts of the office for the fiscal year ending on June 30, 1913, were $91,100.03. During the year the office issued domestic money orders amounting to $146,692.95 and international orders amounting to $18,484.82. The orders paid during the same period amounted to $215,340.90 for the domestic and $2,817.20 for the international - quite a change from the good old days when Colonel Berry carried around the receipts of an entire mail in his hat. The present postmaster is Henry P. Hardie.

The first hotel - or tavern, as houses of entertainment were called in those days - in Anderson was kept by John Berry, the founder of the town, in a hewed log house on the west side of the public square. It was the boast of the proprietor that his house had the best beds in the United States, though he admitted that there might be more imposing hotels in New York and a few other large cities. Berry's house was a favorite stopping place for the lawyers who followed the sessions of the court from one county seat to another on the circuit.

"Uncle Billy" Myers was the second hotel keeper in the town. His tavern was a two-story log house on the south side of the square. The building was burned in 1851 and the same day Mr. Myers purchased the property at the southwest corner of Main and Tenth streets and imme¬ diately resumed business. Some years later he bought a two-story build¬ ing on the east side of the square and here he conducted the "Myers House" until old age compelled him to retire.

stood on the bank of Green's branch, on the Strawtown road, or about where Eighth street now crosses Green's branch. David Harris and his wife came to Madison county about 1826. His death occurred about a year later and his body was interred in the old Indian burying ground on East Ninth street. It is thought that his bones were taken away by the Pan Handle Railroad Company when it opened a gravel pit on the site of the old graveyard. The One Mile House was a two-story log structure, with a one-story wing extending to the rear and for many years it was the principal stopping place in the vicinity of Anderson for immigrants going westward over the Strawtown road. Another hotel of note in early times was the Antrim House, which stood on the site now occupied by the Williams block on Meridian street, opposite the Union building.

In 1852 Alfred Makepeace erected a three-story brick building at the southwest corner of Main and Ninth streets, which was really the first pretentious hotel in the town. It was long known as the "United States Hotel" and was one of the best known houses of entertainment

The Doxey House, which is still doing business at the northeast comer of Ninth and Main streets, was erected by Col. Thomas N. Stilwell and was opened to the public as the 4 'Stilwell House" in 1871 by John Elliott, of Richmond, Indiana. The property was purchased by N. C. McCullough in April, 1875, from the administrator of the Stilwell estate and a year later Mr. McCullough sold it to Maj. Charles T. Doxey, whose name it still bears.

In 1878 the Windsor Hotel was built by Cal. Lee at the northwest comer of Seventh and Meridian, and in 1880 the Griffith House was erected by George R. Griffith at the southeast corner of Tenth and Meridian. Both these hotels have gone out of business. A business block occupies the site of the Windsor and the Anderson Trust Company has its place on the corner where the Griffith once dispensed good cheer.

After the discovery of natural gas J. W. Lovett and Dr. H. E. Jones built the Hotel Anderson on North Meridian street between Sixth and Seventh. It is now owned and occupied by the Loyal Order of Moose for the supreme offices and as a club house.

The first newspaper published in the city was the Federal Union, which was likewise the first paper publisher in Madison county. It was started by T. J. Langdon in 1834, but was discontinued after a few months. A more complete account of the newspapers and periodicals of the present day will be found in the chapter on Educational Develop¬ ment.

The first drug store was started by Dr. J. W. Westerfield in 1843, on the south side of the public square, where he continued in business until 1846, when he sold out to Atticus Siddall. The store was destroyed by the big fire of 1851, which consumed the entire south side of the square. About the beginning of the Civil war Dr. Westerfield again became the proprietor of the store, and during the war the firm was Westerfield & Menefee. Subsequently the place of business - on the east side of the square - became widely known as the Henderson drug store. This concern has been mentioned because it was one of the famous places of rendezvous of the Madison county politicians. Many times have the "pins been set up" at Henderson's drug store for the nomination of some individual for an office, or for the defeat of another who was not looked upon with favor. The old building is still standing and were the walls endowed with the power of speech they could doubt¬ less tell of many a political intrigue of bygone days.

Shortly after Anderson started on its natural gas boom some of the business men began to advocate some sort of an organization for the purpose of advertising the advantages of Anderson as a location for new factories and in other ways advancing the material interests of the city. The result of this agitation was that on the evening of May 24, 1887, a meeting was held at the court house for the purpose of organizing a board of trade. George Nichol presided and E. E. Hendee was chosen secretary. A committee was appointed to draft a constitution, by-laws and articles of association, which it seems had been prepared in advance, as they were adopted the same evening. At a second meeting, held at Chipman & Chipman's law office on the evening of May 31, 1887, George Nichol was elected president and M. A. Chipman, secretary.

At this meeting a communication in the nature of a proposal from a prominent glass manufacturer was read and discussed, but no definite action was taken to secure the location of the plant. Later in the year the board became more active and a number of new industries were established in Anderson under its influence.

An interesting relic of Anderson's early days is now owned by John L. Forkner. For want of a better name it might be called the first city directory. It was compiled by Eli P. Brown in 1876 and is written out with a pen in an old account book, the names being arranged in alphabetical order by wards. On the front page is the inscription: * { Centennial Census, July, 1876, by Eli P. Brown." Opposite the name of each person of foreign birth is written in the margin his nationality, and the recapitulation shows 652 Irish, 266 Germans, 21 English, 12 French, 3,116 native born, and 51 colored - a total of 4,118. Of this population 1,195 were children between the ages of six and twenty-one years, and 527 were children under the age of six years.

Following is a list of the mayors of Anderson from the time'it was incorporated as a city to the present, with the year in which each assumed the duties of the office: Robert N. Williams, 1865; John C. Jones, 1866; Wesley Dunham, 1868; Simeon C. Martindale, 1870; William Roach, 1872; William L. Brown, 1874; Byron H. Dyson, 1876; James Hazlett, 1878; Wesley Dunham, 1882; John F. McClure, 1886; John H. Terhune, 1890; Morey H. Dunlap, 1894; John L. Forkner, 1902; John H. Terhune, 1905; Henry P. Hardie (acting), 1909; Frank P. Foster, 1909.

Robert N. Williams, the first mayor, was elected soon after the city was incorporated in the summer of 1865 and served until the next general election in the spring of 1866. His administration was uneventful as there but little to be done except to preside over the deliberations of the city council and occasionally impose a fine upon some offender who might be brought before him as judge of the city court. He was the first postmaster of Anderson, served as county clerk, auditor and re¬ corder, and was at one time a large holder of Anderson real estate. He was also one of the leading members of the Madison county bar for many years. Mr. Williams was a Republican in politics, but by his popularity as a citizen was chosen the first mayor by common consent, without opposition. The first political contest for the mayoralty was when the next general election took place in 1866, at which John C. Jones defeated Mayor Williams for reelection.

John C. Jones, the second mayor, was a Virginian by birth, but came to Madison county a few years before the beginning of the Civil war and was one of the pioneers of Boone township. His first appearance in politics was as deputy sheriff under his brother-in-law, Benjamin Sebrell, who was elected in 1860. While in this office he made many acquaintances and was elected mayor in 1866. His administration of two years, like that of his predecessor, was uneventful. Mayor Jones

Wesley Dunham was elected in 1868 and served until 1870. During his administration the first street in the city to be improved on an established grade was made passable. This was Water street (now Central avenue). He believed in municipal progress in the way of public works, and though this led to some criticism he was again elected mayor in 1882 and reelected in 1884. After retiring from the mayor's office he served several years as justice of the peace.

Simeon C. Martindale, who served as mayor from 1870 to 1872, was the first Republican to be elected to that office, as such, defeating Wesley Dunham and Andrew Jackson. He was born in Henry county, was ad¬ mitted to the bar in 1860 and was for many years a prominent figure as a member of the bar of Madison county.

William Roach succeeded Mayor Martindale in 1872 and served one term. He had previously served as deputy sheriff and sheriff of the county and had a wide circle of acquaintances. He was one of the pio¬ neer merchants of Huntsville, in Fall Creek township, and was recog¬ nized as a sterling citizen. In 1874, when he was a candidate for reelec¬ tion, the temperance crusade, which swept over the country, struck Anderson. Women paraded the streets and erected booths in front of every saloon, where they held prayer meetings from the opening to the closing hours, keeping tab on all who entered the places. Although Mayor Roach was a temperance man, he yielded to the importunities of the business men and issued a proclamation prohibiting public demon- # strations upon the streets or the holding of prayer meetings in front of the saloons. Then the guns of the crusaders were turned upon the mayor with such effect that he was defeated for reelection.

William L. Brown, the temperance candidate, was elected in 1874 and served for two years. In 1875 he took all the members of the city council and a number of the leading citiens to Union City, Indiana, to inspect the water works that had recently been established in that city, with a view of awakening sufficient interest to induce Anderson to follow the example. Nothing came of the effort, however, and it was not until eleven years later that the Anderson water works were con¬ structed. Mr. Brown was public-spirited and was instrumental in securing the building of the road from the Pan Handle tracks to the cemetery, as well as other public improvements. He subsequently re¬ moved to Sterling, Kansas, where he died.

Byron H. Dyson succeeded Mayor Brown in 1876, being the young¬ est man ever elected to the office in Anderson. At the time of his elec¬ tion he was just from college and w r as a law student in the office of Judge W. R. Pierse. As mayor he presided with dignity and tact and was in all respects a good chief executive. After serving two years as mayor he entered the field of journalism, was connected with the local press and served as correspondent for some of the metropolitan papers. In the early '90s he collaborated with John L. Forkner in the compila¬ tion of a work entitled "Historical Sketches and Reminiscences of Madi¬ son County."